Think back to the
tragic day of 9/11. One video clip immediately comes to mind. An
image of the second plane hitting the south tower, viewed from a
south-facing perspective. All around the world, people can replay
that clip in their heads. It was shown on news outlets for months
after the event.

Now, Imagine if 9/11 happened today.
What would be different? We would have a million different angles
from which to watch the disaster. Maybe we’d even see footage from
inside the buildings: heartbreaking scenes of the victim’s last
moments; Tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagram updates of every
second of the catastrophe.

This thought experiment shows the
democratic climate we live in today – one where every move is under a
scrupulous public microscope. The question that remains is: has
social media harmed or helped the political process in the U.S.

A Digital Nation &
Changes in Media Habits

Whether we like it or not, the way
people are consuming their media has changed. News broadcasters used
to control the political narrative; now, it’s in the hands of anyone
who owns a computer. Just a quick look at cable
TV statistics shows the divergence from traditional media:

In 2018, more than 3.2 million
moved away from cable TV.

In the first quarter of 2019
alone, another 1 million chose to cut the cord.

Every day, the cable TV industry
loses approx. 14,000 subscribers.

Today, news comes from a diverse range
of sources. Newspapers run their own websites, independent blogs have
arisen, and every Tom, Dick & Harry can share their two cents on
social media. As the political conversation has got louder – to say
the least – many are reflecting on the worth of this change.

Is it a good thing that news has become
more accessible and diverse? Or are we losing the essence of truth
that occurs when commentaries are so distant from the original
source? Currently, there are two clear sides to the debate, the most
valid of which is yet to be determined.

Let’s consider both the pros and cons
of democracy in a digital age.

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A Direct Dialogue with
the People

One unarguable advantage of social
media democracy is the direct channel it’s created between
politicians and the people. We can only imagine a world where
founding fathers, like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, could
send out messages that were visible to the whole country. What
political catastrophes could have been avoided with this avenue in
the past?

In the modern world, Trump has shown
how social platforms can be used to communicate and empower voters.
Gone are the restraints of political correctness and misquoting,
which often occur when traditional media outlets spread important
speeches and messages. Now it’s possible for politicians to say
exactly what they mean, straight to their target audience.

Social media also has the advantage of
reaching non-voters and disenfranchised citizens. Those who would
never dream of opening up the politics section of a newspaper use
networks like Facebook and Twitter every day. Even if you don’t seek
out political figures on the platforms, you’re bound to see shares
and retweets that keep you up-to-date.

The Problem with 140
Characters

While social media has afforded
significant potential for politicians, it still comes with its fair
share of drawbacks. Tweets are made to be short, sharp, and snappy.
This requirement is a great marketing tactic, but it’s not the best
for political dialogue.

“Twitter makes it easy to call
attention to news or crack jokes, “but you simply cannot have a
decent argument, or even discussion there.”

This phenomenon has repeated itself
again and again as President Trump has shared his thoughts over the
social network. For example, during the aftermath of the Pulse
Nightclub attack, Trump commented that the disaster might have been
averted if people in the club were armed.

The media was quick to crucify him,
stating that they “don’t think you should have
firearms where people are drinking.” The president was forced to
clarify his statement, saying he meant only staff and security
guards.

Without space to
adequately explain yourself, this type of misunderstanding is
commonplace on social media.

The Social Media Echo
Chamber

Another threat from social media
democracy is the limitation of information. Social networks have
developed to show their users posts that they like. They want people
to keep coming back, so they create an environment of agreement and
validation.

A recent study uncovered that most of
us are living in an online echo chamber. The comprehensive
report by Garimella et al. tracked the response to significant
political events, and how partisan users on social media treated
them. They showed the decreasing likelihood of being exposed to
content that questioned your belief system.

On Twitter specifically, users tend to
exist in echo chambers, where only one viewpoint was explored. Those
who actively shared bipartisan information were also ‘punished’ by a
lack of exposure and engagement on their account. In short, the
platform splits content into different camps and discourages people
from searching for alternate perspectives. The researchers concluded
that this could have detrimental effects on the democratic process.

Fact Checking &
Critical Thinking

Critical thinking has been essential
for democratic growth throughout history. Plato was the first to
mention the concept in his records of Socrates’s teaching. In the age
of social media, critical thinking is more important than ever. We
get our news straight to our phones, tablets, and computers, so it’s
easy to take what we read for granted. If we truly want to move
forward as a society, it’s time to start questioning the validity of
each claim.

Here are some easy tips to fact check
what you read on social media:

Find the Source

Most blogs, posts,
and articles talk about singular events. Often these events have been
filmed –or at least transcribed. Searching for the source material
is a great way to find the reality of the situation.

Check Opposing Viewpoints

On social media,
we only hear one side of the story. To establish the truth of that
side, it helps to look at the other. Usually reality lies somewhere
between the two.

Check Fact-Checking Sources

Websites like
‘Snopes’ are bipartisan platforms that dedicate themselves to
fact-checking claims and sources. They’ve already disproved most of
the ludicrous accusations thrown at Trump.

Practice Critical Thinking

The internet is
awash with resources to help you sharpen your critical thinking. If
you’re genuinely dedicated to helping democracy, take the time out to
practice these skills and apply them to the content you see.

What’s the Verdict:
Is Social Media Helping or Harming?

In the age of information overload,
it’s not enough to see political claims online and believe them
outright. If we don’t do our due diligence and fact-check claims,
then the impact of social media democracy is negative. What results
is a voter-base who are strongly misinformed and continually
validated in their wrongness by the echo chamber in which they live.

Social media has considerable positive
potential. The diversifying of news streams and the possibility to
talk directly to the voter base means that it’s harder than ever for
politicians to lie or backtrack on what they’ve said. However, it has
to be used mindfully for us to get the real benefit.

If social media is going to continue
being a political puppet, we have to use it with caution and
assiduity.